Oisin O’Neill is superb on return to Armagh action as Orchard County topple Tyrone in the Dr McKenna Cup

An outstanding display from Oisin O’Neill in his first Armagh game since April 2022 saw the Orchard County book their place in the last four of the Dr McKenna Cup with a 1-14 to 2-10 victory over rivals Tyrone.

O’Neill missed most of the 2022 season for Armagh and the entire 2023 campaign through injury, but having had a stellar Championship run with Crossmaglen Rangers – which landed him the Armagh Senior Club Player of the Year award – he will be a welcome addition back into the fold for Armagh as they begin their preparations for life in Division 2, with the opener against Louth taking place on January 27.

The Crossmaglen man was the stand-out performer in the game, and he notched 0-7, with four points from frees in the first half, as well as setting up a goal with an incisive over the shoulder fist pass which split the defence.

Ballyhegan’s Peter McGrane was the recipient of that pass, and he was cool, calm and collected in front of goal, picking his spot and finding the top corner.

However, Tyrone took a 1-7 to 1-6 slender lead in at the break, owing in large part to two superb scores from Michael McKernan, a brace of scores from full forward Lorcan McGarrity, and an early goal from Tarlach Quinn.

Tyrone had a goal chance minutes into the second half when McGarrity was put through on goal, but he was denied by an excellent save by Shea Magill. At the other end two more points from Oisin O’Neill put Armagh ahead for the first time in the game.

Belleek’s Callum O’Neill – who starred in a pre-Christmas exhibition match at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds - made his competitive debut for Armagh and he marked it with a point, which was assisted by fellow debutant Darragh McMullan.

Crossmaglen duo Cian McConville and Oisin O’Neill scored either side of a Conor Owens mark to have Armagh ahead by three going into the last 15 minutes.

The next three scores were all frees, with McGarrity, McConville and Peter Harte finding success, before McGarrity had a huge goal chance which would have put Tyrone ahead on 67 minutes, but somehow Magill used his reflexes and kept out the shot from point blank range.

Late points from Niall Rowland and Joe Sheridan seemed to have Kieran McGeeney’s side home and hosed, before a fluke goal from Dalaigh Jones who scored from 40 metres out moved Armagh off top spot, but Armagh still reached the last four as the best second-placed team.